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From empty theaters to packed houses, response to Melania Trump documentary reflects America’s political division
CNN ^ | January 31, 2026 | Eric Bradner

Posted on 01/31/2026 8:00:53 AM PST by MinorityRepublican

Marla Ailor attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration last year with her family, and remembered thinking it was a long day.

So she breathed a sigh of relief on Friday as she watched Melania Trump’s documentary and saw that — after a day that included three balls and returning to the White House at 2 a.m. — the first lady kicked off her heels.

“It’s a gauntlet,” she said. “You really appreciate what they have to go through in order to get through an event like that, and what their day must really be like.”

Ailor, the elected clerk-treasurer of nearby Westfield, was one of about 100 people — mostly older women — who packed all but two of the 10 rows of seats at a Regal movie theater northeast of Indianapolis on Friday for one of the first showings of Amazon MGM Studios’ “Melania,” which documents a 20-day stretch leading up to Trump’s return to office. In Carmel, a group of about 20 women who are active in local politics bought tickets for the 12:45 p.m. showing.

The film wasn’t a hit in every city on its opening day. Theaters in some cities were nearly empty. In Washington, DC, the first showing of the day — 11:30 a.m. ET at Regal Gallery Place downtown — was about one-third filled, and almost everyone in the theater was a reporter. Representatives of NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Atlantic were among those in the room.

Before the previews began, a male reporter called out, “Is everyone a journalist here?”

A chorus of replies came from across the room: “Here.” “Here.” “Here.”

“Any civilians?” the man asked.

“I’m a civilian,” said one woman, who added that she was there with a journalist friend.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: melania; melaniadocumentary; movies; trump
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1 posted on 01/31/2026 8:00:53 AM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

It’s too cold to go out.


2 posted on 01/31/2026 8:03:01 AM PST by ChessExpert (Infidels of the world unite against the evil that is Islam.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

While some initial projections suggested a potential flop, the higher-end estimate of $8M-$9M could make it a strong opening for a documentary.

Not that it’s something I plan to see. I assume others probably will be interested.


3 posted on 01/31/2026 8:08:06 AM PST by MotorCityBuck (Keep the change, you are filthy animal !)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I wouldn’t go pay to watch a movie about ANY first lady ever!

Unless it was live video of Mooochelle Obama’s execution!

LMAO


4 posted on 01/31/2026 8:08:25 AM PST by TexasFreeper2009
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To: ChessExpert

Yeah, few are going out around here unless it is a necessity.

It will be on Prime soon anyway. Probably will be pay at first.


5 posted on 01/31/2026 8:08:29 AM PST by dforest
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To: MinorityRepublican

When it hits TV apps, it will be watched.


6 posted on 01/31/2026 8:08:46 AM PST by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...
s/b, "reflects the bigotry of the entire left".

7 posted on 01/31/2026 8:13:43 AM PST by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: TexasFreeper2009

Now be nice. 😄


8 posted on 01/31/2026 8:18:43 AM PST by MotorCityBuck (Keep the change, you are filthy animal !)
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To: dforest

“ It will be on Prime soon anyway. Probably will be pay at first.”

Don’t forget the obligatory 3-4 commercial interruptions during your paid subscription. 😕


9 posted on 01/31/2026 8:21:01 AM PST by MotorCityBuck (Keep the change, you are filthy animal !)
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To: MotorCityBuck

The fact someone used the the term civilian vs journalist is quite disturbing and telling how they view themselves. Special class of citizens........@$$holes


10 posted on 01/31/2026 8:23:05 AM PST by SteelPSUGOP (UGHT)
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To: SteelPSUGOP

Yup, on par with the military for national service.


11 posted on 01/31/2026 8:27:50 AM PST by nwrep
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To: MinorityRepublican
Wait, what? Urinalists aren't civilian?

I know not all of them are civil or civilized but they are civilians.

12 posted on 01/31/2026 8:45:20 AM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. )
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To: MotorCityBuck

Oh, I won’t.


13 posted on 01/31/2026 8:50:59 AM PST by dforest
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To: MinorityRepublican

Well they certainly paint a bleak picture for a movie that had the biggest opening of any documentary for the last 10 years. And had the full weight of the liberal industry against it. It outgrossed recent movies by jennifer lawrence and others.


14 posted on 01/31/2026 8:58:26 AM PST by Arkady
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To: MinorityRepublican

My best friend and I had to cancel our tickets at the Regal here in Atlanta today due to snow. So disappointed. 😣


15 posted on 01/31/2026 9:56:06 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Georgia Girl 2
Wife and I went to the first showing at a local theater yesterday.

Place was about half-full, so for a movie, it was very well attended.

I thought it was fascinating, because it gives a "behind-the-scenes" glimpse.

You get to see inside the penthouse on top of Trump tower, and Mar-a-Lago, and the White House, and the Trump airplane, etc.


16 posted on 01/31/2026 10:09:01 AM PST by BikerJoe
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To: MinorityRepublican
In Washington, DC, the first showing of the day — 11:30 a.m. ET at Regal Gallery Place downtown — was about one-third filled, and almost everyone in the theater was a reporter.

So who goes to a movie at 11:30 AM on a weekday? Especially when it's ten degrees F outside. Let's see what the weekend numbers show. Of course CNN wants it to crash and burn.

17 posted on 01/31/2026 10:38:16 AM PST by Rummyfan (Ok In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support lthe civilized man.👨 so t tv)
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To: Rummyfan
So who goes to a movie at 11:30 AM on a weekday? Especially when it's ten degrees F outside. Let's see what the weekend numbers show.

Excellent question, but it is almost self answering.

If it were free, I would not have gone, as I had to go put to buy some necessities, and it was -7 Degrees.

There is no way that I'd have gone back outside in that kind of weather for a movie.

18 posted on 01/31/2026 11:04:01 AM PST by USS Alaska (NUKE THE MOOSELIMB TERRORIST SAVAGES)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Yeah, you’re up on the side of town getting hit. There’s a little bit here. But man is it cold and windy!


19 posted on 01/31/2026 11:27:57 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: FreedomPoster

We’re getting it in S Gwinnett right now.


20 posted on 01/31/2026 11:29:24 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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